Estrogen down-regulates nicotine-induced adhesion molecule expression via nongenomic signal pathway in endothelial cells

Int Immunopharmacol. 2006 Jun;6(6):892-902. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2005.12.006. Epub 2006 Jan 23.

Abstract

Although gonadal hormone mostly causes genotropic actions through the members of nuclear receptor family, it also can regulate these actions via membrane receptor. To explore the possibility of plasma membrane estrogen receptors (mER) mediating genotropic events, we have investigated estrogen's effect on nicotine-stimulated adhesion molecule expression and evaluated whether this effect depends on calcium, MAPK signal pathway. Fluorescence Spectroscopy analysis of Ca2+ from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed through mER, estrogen induced a rapid rise of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and this rise could not be inhibited by tamoxifen (classic ER inhibitor). In the context of nicotine stimulating, however, estrogen attenuated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members, extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 but not c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HUVECs and this effect could not still be prevented by tamoxifen. In the meantime, estrogen also down-regulated surface/soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1, sVCAM-1) and endothelial selectin (E-selectin, sE-selectin) levels, which was not abolished by tamoxifen either. Moreover, calcium chelator BAPTA, ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, p38 inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced the production of nicotine-activated surface/soluble VCAM-1 and E-selectin and both of the remained levels were no longer regulated by estrogen. Our study here provides the information of decrease effect of mER-mediated estrogen through Ca2+ and ERK1/2, p38 MAPK signaling pathway on nicotine-stimulated expression of surface/soluble VCAM-1 and E-selectin in HUVECs.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • E-Selectin / genetics
  • E-Selectin / metabolism
  • Egtazic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Egtazic Acid / pharmacology
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Nicotine / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Estradiol / analysis
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Chelating Agents
  • E-Selectin
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Estrogens
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Estradiol
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Tamoxifen
  • Estradiol
  • Egtazic Acid
  • Nicotine
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid